1987 : aged 6 – Andy’s first time on skis in Courmayeur (still one of his favourite resorts!)

1992 : aged 11 – Graham Hand, then Head of the Interski Snowsport School, awards Andy with a 5* badge and certificate – the boy’s got real talent!

1999 : school days over, it’s time for Andy to undertake the Ski Gap Year Instructor Training under the watchful and experienced eyes of BASI trainers, Mike Norton, the late Alan Bunyan and Duncan Adamson.  He passed with flying colours, of course!

1999 : Andy’s first teaching group?  Ironically, none other than his PE teacher (Mr Mellor) and students from his former Nottinghamshire school

2000 -2003 : Three years’ university study, but even that couldn’t keep Andy of the slopes.  Every holiday he’d be out in the Aosta Valley instilling the love of skiing to enthusiastic school groups

2004 : Andy becomes a full time ski instructor for the Interski Snowsport School, based in Pila, along with Ross Nelson, Jamie Deamer and Andy Humphries, all now ISTD qualified – the best of the best!

2005 – 2009 : a winter season in Morzine/Avoriaz training towards the BASI level 3 ISIA qualification, followed by application and acceptance for stagiaire status.  This lead to 4 years teaching in the Ecole de Ski International in Morzine, whilst training for his BASI Level 4 ISTD qualification

2009 : Monday 14 December (he remembers the date well!), Andy passes the elusive Eurotest in Passo Tonale.  He’s now a prestigious BASI Level 4 ISTD, with full French equivalence, BEES 1er degree

2009 – 2013 : Andy started work at The Snow Institute, Morzine, where he spent another four winters teaching in the Portes du Soleil

2013 – present : Andy becomes Interski Snowsports Training Manager.  He’s delighted to be back where it all started, coaching new Gap students and encouraging instructors to reach their full potential.

The circle is complete!